Carton



Jan. 18, 1944.

B. J. DAVIDSON CARTON 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 51, 1940 M a u u n n Tillll alllll'lllllllllllll! Illlll Iflflllillllllllllll Jan. 18, 1944.-

B. .1. DAVIDSON CARTON Filed July 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v BRUCE J DAV/D so/v Patented Jan. 18, y1944 CARTON Bruce J. Davidson, Manhasset, N. Y., assignor to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New Jersey Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,609

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-35) My invention pertains to cartons and particucrackers and other dryy -articles of food. These bags have a decided advantage over paper bags and wrapped packages in that the purchaser can see just the quality and quantity of the articles that he is getting. However, shipment and handling of these Cellophane bags has presented a problem. The filled bags usually have been packed in large cardboard containers that are closed by sealing iiaps or by stripsr of sealing tape, it being necessary to seal the cartons in order to prevent pilferage andto strengthen the container during shipment and storage.

Among the several objects of the present invention are to provide la two piece (top and bottom) carton that is self-locking; that is, a, carton in which the act of closing it or placing the cover in closing position automatically locks the cover to the bottom or tray. This not only makes the carton pilfer proof, but also saves the cost of material and labor heretofore required for sealing the cartons. provide a carton that is strong and durable and in which the ends and sides will not bulge or bow outwardly. Another object is to provide a lock carton that has smooth ends and sides without external locking flaps or tongues, which in A ordinary cartons are so apt t Catch and be v130m in handling. Another object is to provide a selfsealing or locking carton wherein the lock may be opened or separated without damage to the carton, and the box body or tray may be used as av display for the bags of articles packed therein.

Another Iobject is to The above and other objects and advantages of my invention are attained by the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a blank for forming the bottom or tray of a carton.

Fig. 2 shows the tray formed by folding the blank of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa blank for forming the cover or top of the carton.

Fig. 4 showsthe cover formed from the blank of Fig. 3.

Fig. .7 is a blank from which a modified form of bottom or tray may be formed.

Fig. 8 shows the tray formed from the blank of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 shows a blank for-forming a self-locking lid or top that co-operates with the tray of Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 shows' the' cover formed from the blank of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11Y is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing one end and part of one side of a closed carton formed by placing the-cover of Fig. 10 on the bottom of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3-I3 of Fig. 11.

Referring rst to Figs. 1,to 6, the blank'for forming the bottom or tray of the carton is shown in Fig. 1 and is made from a single piece of cardboardV which is cut and scored to form a bottom 20, side walls 2|, 22 which are joined to the bottom along the score lines 23, 24. Score lines 25, 26 at the ends of the bottom define end flaps 21, 28 which are turned up along the score lines 25, 26 to form the inner face of the end walls. Outer end aps 29, 30, 3|, 32 are connected to the side walls along the score lines 33, 34, 35, 36. When the carton tray is formed as shown in Fig. 3, the ilaps 29 and 30 are turned in, outside of the flap 28, and interlocked by the hooks 31, 38 to form one end of the tray. Similarly, at the other end, the aps 3l, 32 are interlocked outside of the end ilap 21 to form the other end wall of the tray. The lower edges of the end flaps are cut away or notched out as shown at 41,42, 43, 44 so that when the ilaps arelocked together, the ends of the cut-away portions will provide a locking shoulder 45 some distance above the bottom of the tray, as shown in Fig. 2.

The blank of Fig. 3 from which the top or cover of the carton is formed has a top panel 46 to the ends of which the end ilaps 41, 48 are connected along score lines 49, 50. Locking lipsor tongues 5I, 52 are connected to the end aps 41. 4 8 along score lines 53, 54.

Sides 55, 56 are connected to the top panel 46 along the score lines 51, 58. Inner end flaps 59, 60, 6|, 62 are connected to the ends of the side walls along score lines 63, 64, 65, and 66. The inner end flaps have hooks 61', 66', 69', 10' adapted to interlock when the blanlr is folded to form `the cover. In forming the cover, the sides 55, 56 are first turned up, the iiaps 69, 60. 6I, 62 turned in and their respective hooks interlocked'. The end ilaps 41, 46 are next turned up-outside of the inner end naps and the lips 5|, 52' turned down inside the cover and over the inner end flaps as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The materialfrom which the cover is made is more or less resilient so that the lips 5|, 52 tend to unfold toward each other. The width of the outer ends of the lips as shown in Fig. 3 is substantially equal to, but very slightly less than the width of the locking shoulder 45 shown in Fig. 2. The resilience of the material forces the outer edge of the lips into engagement with the shoulders and automatically locks the cover in place whenit is placed over the bottom or tray. 'I'his locking is shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 3 that the transverse score lines as 33, 26, 34 and 63, 49, 64 are not exactly in alignment, the score lines 26 and 49 being off-set an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the cardboard. When the material is relatively thin the transverse score lines may be in direct alignment.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, side walls 2|, 22 are provided with slits 61, 68 and the side walls of the cover are notched out to provide tongues 69, 10. When the cover is placed on the tray, the tongues 69, are pressed in against the sides 2|, 22 which opens the slits 61, 68 so that the tongues enter them. This prevents the sides of the carton from bulging or bowing out. It will also be noted that the end flaps 41, 48 present a smooth exterior to the ends of the carton so that it will not be caught or torn during shipment slits 9|, 92 when the carton is closed as shown in Figs. 11 and 13.

To form the tray as shown in Fig. 8, the inner' end flaps 12, 13 are rst turned up to vertical position, then the side walls 14, 15 are turned up and the aps 16, 11 and 18, 19 turned in outside of the fiaps 12, 13 and the hooks interlocked with the inner end naps through the slits 80, 8|.

The side and end w'alls of the blank of Fig. 9 are turned up as shown in Fig. 10 to form the cover. When the cover is inserted over the bottom or vtray shown in Fig. 8, the tongues |04, |05 are guided into the slits 9|, 92 and the lips 96, 91 are pressed in above the slits 80, 8| so that they enter into the slits and the hooks 98, 99 and |00, |0I engage against the abutments 90 and' also against the material of the inner end flaps above the slits 80, 8| which automatically locks the cover in closed position.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a carvton which automatically locks itself when closed and does not require to be sealed with tape or glue, thus effecting a considerable economy in filled with merchandise and then the cover of Fig.

'i will be placed over it. 'I'he tongues 69, 10 will be pressed in as the cover goes into position, thus entering the slots 61, 68. When the cover is in fully closed position, the lips 5|, 52 will spring in under the shoulders 46 which locks the cover to the box. Thus, no tape or glue is necessary for securing the box in closed position. When it is desired to open the box, the purchaser runs a finger under the end aps 41, 48 which presses the lips 5|, 52 outward away from engagement with the shoulders 45 so that the cover can be lifted ofi. When the material packed in the carton is Cellopha'ne bags filled with merchandise, the tray may be used as a means for eilectually displaying them.

Reference will new be had to Figs. 7 to 13 wherein I have illustrated another embodiment of my invention. The blank for forming the bottom or tray is shown in Fig. '1 and comprises a bottom 1| to the ends of which end fiaps 12, 13 are joined along the usual score lines and sides 14, 15 are joined along similar score lines. Outer end flaps 16, 11, 18, 19 likewise are joined to the ends of the sides along score lines. Each of the inner end flaps is provided with a slit 80, 8| and each of the 'outer end fiaps is provided with a hookv82, 83, 84, 85 which are adapted to interlock with the inner end iiap through the slits 80, 8l. 'Ihe outer end flaps are cut away in part along one edge and the hooks cut along straight lines as shown at 86, 81, 88, 89 so that when the bottom tray is formed as shown in Fig. 8 a locking shoulder 90 will be provided at each end. Each side wall is provided with a longitudinal slit 9|, 92 to receive a tongue formed on the cover similar to the function or the suts s1, es.

The blank for forming the cover is shown in Fig. 9 and comprises a top panel 98 to which the end walls 84, 95 are joined along the usual score lines, the end walls at their outer edges being both material and labor. Also the carton has a relatively smooth exterior with few or no projecting flaps or tongues to be caught and torn. The.

carton cannot be easily opened or its contents tampered with.

While I have illustrated two forms of my invention, it may beernbodied in many other modilcations and I claim all such that come within the scope of my claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lock carton comprising a bottom tray and a cover,` the tray having bottom, side and end walls, each end wall being formed from an end flap connected along its lower edge to the bottom and two side flaps disposed outside the end flap and connected at one end to the ends of opposite side walls, the other ends of the side flaps overlapping and interlocking, the side flaps having upper and lower edges and being cut away in part on their lower edges including the overlapping portions so as to` provide a locking shoulder parallel -to the top of the tray and spaced from the bottom, said cover having top, side and end walls, said side and end walls iitting over and outside of the side and end walls of the tray, said cover end walls having straight edged lips extending inwardly andupwardly from their lower edges, the straight edges of the lips engaging the locking shoulders provided by the cut-out portions of said interlocking side aps to lock the cover to the tray.

2. A lock carton comprising a bottom tray and a cover, the tray having bottom, side and end walls, each end wall being formed from an end flap connected along its lower edge to the bottom and two side flaps disposed outside the end flap and connected at one end to the ends of 0D- posite side walls, the other ends of the side flaps overlapping and interlocking, the side flaps having upper and lower edges and being cut away in part on their lower edges including the overlapping portions so as to provide a locking shoulder parallel to the top of the tray and spaced from the bottom, said cover having top, side and end walls, said side and endvwalls fitting over and out' side of the side and end walls of the tray, said cover end walls having straight edged lips extending inwardlyand upwardly from their'lower edges, the straight edges of the lips engaging' the locking shoulders provided by the cut-out portions of said interlocking side flaps Ato lock th cover to the tray, each of the tray side walls having' a. slotspaced from its four edges and each of the cover side walls having a tongue that engages within the respective tray side slots to prevent outward bowing of the cover-side walls.

BRUCE J. DAVIDSON. 

